Improvement in submarine gr



IlNrra raras IMPROVEMENT IN SUBIVIARINE GRAPPLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,516, dated March 2, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THoMAs SHEEHAN, of Dunkirk, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Submarine Grapple; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, said drawing being an elevation of my improvement.

This invention relates to an improvement in implements which are employed for grasping submerged articles or articles or substances at the bottom of rivers, wells, 85o., and raising them to the surface.

The object ot' the invention is to produce an implement over which the operator may have perfect control, the jaws being allowed to be distended to a greater or less degree, as may be desired, and also permitted to close forcibly or gradually at any depth the implement is capable of being used.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the handle of the implement, which may be constructed of wood in pieces of suitable length and jointed together, anyl number of joints or pieces being used,'accord ing to the depth of the water.

To the end of the handle A a metallic socket, B, is rmly attached, the outer end of the socket extending some distance beyond the handle, and being divaricated or divided into two parts, each part being sufficiently thin, or of such a thickness as to form a spring, C, of requisite strength.

To the outer end of each spring C a lever, D, is pivoted, as shown at b. These levers are of slightly-curved form, and are connected by a rivet, a, the pivots b being between the rivet a and the inner ends of the levers.

To the inner end of each lever D the ends of a cord or chain, E, are attached, and this cord is attached at its center to a cord or chain, F, which passes through eyes e attached to the handle A. rIhis cord or chain F may extend the whole length of the handle.

To the rivet a a loop, G, is attached. This loop has a cord or chain, H, secured to it,

which cord or chain is attached to a lever, I, on the handle A. The outer end of lever l has a cord or chain, J, attached to it, which extends along through guides on the handle and is attached to one end of a lever, K. The opposite end of this lever has a cord or chain, L, attached to it, which passes through guides on the handle and around a pulley, d, at the end of an arm, c, attached to the end of one j ward the lever K by hand the cord or chain J will actuate the lever I, and this lever will, by means ofthe chain H, distend the levers D and jaws N, the chain H drawing or acting upon the rivet a.

The jaws may be distended so as to be any required distance apart by means of the pawl j', which is kept in contact with the teeth of the segment rack M by means of a spring, h. When the jaws are distended the required distance apart the implement is lowered into the water, and when the jaws are over the article to be grasped the cord L is operated by hand, so as to liberate the pawl It from the rack M, and the jaws will be forced toward each other by the springs O C, the jaws grasping the article or substance between them.

In case the article to be grasped and raised is very weighty the implement may be assisted by applying the power to the cord F, which will relieve the handle of undue strain.

In case the article to be grasped is such that it would be injured by the forcible closing of the jaws the jaws may be made to close gradually by controlling the movement of lever K with the hand.

By having the jaws kept in a disteuded state by means of the pawl and segment rack, as shown, the jaws may be distended a greater or less distance according to the size of the article or articles to be grasped, and conse- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let quently time will not be expended in drawing ters Patent, is-

up articles larger than the articles sought. l The employment or use ofthe segment rack I am aware that jaws have been previously M and pawl It, applied to the levers D D of applied to springs, and various plans have the jaws, and actuated by means ofthe levers been devised for retaining the jaws in a dis- K I and cords or chains J H L, substantially tended state and liberating them when dei as and for the purpose set forth.

sired and I therefore do not claim, broadly, l THOMAS SHEEHAN.

such device irrespective oi' the peculiar means l Witnesses:

employed, as herein shown; but, L. B. BROWN,

Having thus described my invention, what GEO. P. SAUNDERS. 

